Box blank creasing and folding machine



Jan. 2, 1940. H. MITCHELL El AL I 2,185,67

BOX BLANK CREASING AND FOLDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1939 Jan. 2, 1940. H. MITCHELL El AL 7 BOX BLANK CREASING AND FOLDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April' 24, 1939 11.1!-illliliiilll--l liili llllill l I l I Qv mm v Wm m Jan. 2, 1940. H. L.'MITCHELL El AL 2,185, 7

I BOX BLANK CREASING AND FOLDING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet s Filed April 24, 1939 Herbri Mz'ZcheZZ Seldon lML'icheZZ Jan. 2, 1940. H. MITCHELL ET AL BOX BLANK CREASING AND FOLDING 'MACHINE Filed Afiril 24, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 |l||lllll||||ll lilllll lllll lllllllllllllllll ll |l|l| l| l rllll |llll ll |ll HerEerZ LJVIZ'ZJZeZ f/ Seldon MiZcheZZ Jan, 2, 1940.

H. L. MITCHELLET AL 2,185.675 B OX BLA NK CREASINQ AND FOLDING. MACHINE I Filed April 24, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet. 5

HerZerZ L. Miran Semen G MiZc7Z/eZZ Jan. 2, 1940. H. L. MITCHELL ET AL ,185,675

BOX BLANK CREASING AND FOLDING MACHINE' I Filed April 24, 1939 I 8 sheets sheet 6 M I HerZerZ L. Mz'iche iz 53267072 MiZcheZL Jan. 2, 1940. H.'L. MITCHELL El AL I BOX BLANK CREASING AND FOLDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 'T Filed April 24, 1939 7 grwe/wbo o Herberi' LMi/ZcheZZ SeZcZorz QMiZcheZZ 9 H.. 1.. MITCHELL ET AL 2,185,675

' BOX BLANK CREA SING AND FOLDINQ MACHINE I Filed April 24, 1939, a Sheets-Sheet 8 HerZerZ Z M zZaheZZ 882E071 a. MiZcheZZ I WW3.

Patented Jan. 2, 1940 BOX BLANK camsmo AND FOLDING MACHINE Herbert L. Mitchell and Seldon G. Mitchell, High Point, N. 0., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of fifty: per cent to Seldon G. Mitchell and fifty per cent to Charles T. Ingram, both of High Point, N. 0.

Application April 24, 1939, Serial No. 269,768

21 Claims. (Cl. 93-581) Our invention relates generally to the art of corrugated board, flbreboard or cardboard box and carton construction, and it particularly has reference to certain new and useful improvements in machines for scoring or creasing and folding the blanks used in the construction of boxes or cartons of corrugated board, fibreboard or cardboard or other similar materials.

The present invention has for its object to provide a new and improved blank feeding mechanism, a new and improved blank scoring or creasing mechanism, and a new and improved blank folding mechanism, all cooperating to produce a machine through which the blanks may be carried at a greater speed than has heretofore been found practicable.

Again, it is an object to provide a machine which will feed in the blanks in such manner that the blanks will not be mashed or damaged by the pusher elements of the endless conveyor.

Further, it is an object to provide an improved scoring or creasing mechanism that will allow the folder conveyor to be located close thereto so that the creasing or scoring discs will cooperate with the folder during the initial bending period in order that the bending may be com ends the invention still further resides in those novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of wh ch will be first fully described in the detailed description and will then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 1 and 1, when joined on the lines A-A and 3-3, represent a side "elevation of the machine constituting the present invention, the nearer side frame 2 being removed'from Fig. 1 for clearness of illustration.

Figs. 2 and 2 are top plan views of parts of the machine and may be read together as one by joining the lines C-C.

Fig. 3 is a top-plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1 on a reduced scale.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section on the line 55 of Fig. 1

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the folder plates and its hinge. Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of a folded blank.

In the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and in which like numbers and letters of reference designate like parts in all the figures, I and 2 designate the end frames. of the machine.

There are two frames I at one end of the machine and two frames 2 at the other end of the machine. gether by the longitudinal channel irons 83. The frames I, I are cross braced by the I-beam 3 and those 2-2, at the other end, by the I-beam 4.

Longitudinally disposed between the sides of the machine are one or more blank feeding and conveying and blank scoring or creasing and folding mechanisms (usually at least two), which remove one blank at a time from a stack and feed it to the scoring or creasing units, and fold the blank before passing it to the tape-pasting mechanism (not shown).

Each of said mechanisms includes a suitable support which may consist of spaced longitudinal, vertically disposed plates or frames 5 and 6, suitably joined together by spaced connections 84 (see 5), apertured for passage of the I-beams 3 and 4 and provided with rollers 9 and III to ride on the I-beams, and thereby permit lateral adjustment of the frame units.

A table II at the entrant and (right-hand end in Figs. 1 and 4) is provided on which the box or carton blanks B are stacked.

The side frames I have horizontal flanges I2 serving as track-ways for the adjustable (slidable) supports I3 which are connected together by a stationary bar I4 of angular cross section. A shaft I5 is is also journaled in the supports I3 and extends across the table. g; ars I6 which mesh with racks I1 secured in brackets I8 fastened to the frames I. One end, at least, of the shaft I5 is squared to receive a. suitable crank bywhich it may be turned'to move the supports back and forth in the tracks I2 for purpose-of adjustment, as will more fully appear later.

Set screws 85 may be provided to secure the supports to the frame immovably when desired.

Mounted on the shaft I5 and bar I (or on the bar alone, ifdesired) are two side boards I9 be- At its ends it has Those at each side are connected toblank-thickness above the same, and the height of the passage beneath the plates is regulated by the adjustable gates 2|. These gates 2| are adjustable up and down by means of a swivel screw 86 and jam nut 87.

Mounted on a driven shaft 21 and stub shaft 26 are sprockets 25 and 24 respectively which carry a blank feeding chain 23 having a suitable number of pushers 28 which give the initial movement to the blanks in taking them from the stack and conveying them through the machine.

The shaft 27 is rotatably mounted in the frames I, while the sprocket 25 is movable along the shaft, but rotates with it. The shaft 21 at one side of the frame I has fixed to it a sprocket 35 around which passes a chain 34 which also passes around a sprocket 33 on a shaft 32 journaled in suitable bearings carried by the frames The shaft 32 carries an elliptical gear 36 which meshes with an elliptical gear 38 on a shaft 31, also journaled in suitable bearings in frame I. The shaft 31 is driven from the shaft 88 through a suitable power transmitting mechanism such, for example, as a.gear train or gear-sprocketchain train 39.

Shaft 88 is driven by a chain 48 which passes around a sprocket 4| on shaft 88 and first-motion shaft 3 I, respectively.

At each end of the machine the carriage (composed of plates 5 and 6) carries a master sprocket 38 around which the main conveyor chain 28 passes. This chain is provided at suitable intervals with pushers 42 which take up the blanks at the stack as soon as the pushers 28 cease to function, as will later more fully appear.

Rigidly mounted at its ends in the side frames is a bridge bar 43 on which is laterally adjustably secured the brackets 44 which carry the scoring or creasing discs. Scoring or creasing discs 46 are mounted in gang formation on a gang bar which. is carried by adjusting screws 41 having hand wheels 48, and jam nuts 48. and which are mounted in suitable lugs on the bracket 44. The bar 45 is guided, for vertical movement, in bar guides 58 secured to the bracket 44.

Mounted on a stub shaft carried by a block 52 is a guide roller 5|, the block being carried by a rod 53 spring loaded at 54 and passing through a lug 55 on the bracket 44 and through a hole 56 therein. The roller 5| is therefore yieldable Mounted on the carriage 5, 6 is another roller.

63 which lies below the blank Ba and cooperates with roller 5| to guidethe blank into the scoring or creasing station.

Mounted on a stub shaft 88 carried by the carriage 5, 6 is the major sprocket 65 of thescoring anvil-chain 64, andalso the sprockets 38 and 68 which respectively carry the main conveyor chain 28 and the folder conveyor chain 68. (See Fig. 5.)

As shown in Figs. 1 1 and 5, the anvil-chain 64 is composed of links having grooved faces 61. This chain also passes around a sprocket 66 on a stub shaft 8| secured to the plate 5. The upper flight of the chain 64 lies horizontally beneath the blanks as they pass through the machine and in contact with the same, the grooves 61 lining up with the discs 46 (see Fig. 5).

69 and 18 are sprockets around which the folder-conveyor chain 68 passes. This chain has guide rollers 88 which run in a channel guide rail 18 mounted on brackets 18 secured to plate 5, and at proper intervals it carriesfolder plates hinged as at 12 to the chain.

l3 designates a folder plate actuating cam rail which is mounted on brackets 11 secured to plate 5.

- Each folder plate 1| carries a pair of rollers 14 to engage the cam rail 13 and maintain connection thereto.

As shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 a bracket extension 15 is secured to the end of bracket 44 and carries a hold-down bar or finger 16 whose thickness is preferably reduced toward its rear end so as to present only-a very thin blade to the blank as the final fold-over position of the blank side is reached.

The carriages 5, 6 are moved laterally by means of screws 1 and 8 and the brackets 44 are similarly moved laterally by screws 8|. These screws may be provided separately with hand wheels 88, 88, or they may be connected for simultaneous operation in any suitable way, as, for example,

' by sprockets 8| and chain 82, diagrammatically indicated for convenience of illustration by dot and dash lines in Figs. 1 1 1.

In the practical construction of the machine the drive train 48, 38, 38, 36, 33, 34, 35 is so designed and timed with regard to the speed of the main conveyor chains 28 that a pusher 28 will engage the rear end of the nethermost blank B in the stack while: the chain 23 is moving at its slowest pace and from then on its speed is increased until the pus'ner reaches the position shown in Fig. 4 by which time the pusher 42 on the main conveyor chain will have contacted the blank being fed and will convey it the remaining distance through the-machine. -In this way a blank is taken up in the stack by the slow impact of pusher 28, advanced with increasing speed to that of the main conveyor and then taken up by a the pusher 42 of the main conveyor without substantial impact. Thus the edge of the blank remains uninjured and a greater speedof operation is obtained than is possible in' known machines.

As the blank is taken up by the main conveyor chains (two units are usually employed--a right 46 and anvil chains 64. 1

By the time a blank'has its trailing'edge past the rollers 5|, 63, a folder plate H begins to raise the sides B (see Fig. 5), which movement continues as the blank is moved along until the sides have been completely folded over the midportion of the blank, after which the movement of the folders H is reversed by c'am rail-13f-and folder plates 1| returned tohorizontal as they pass around the'outgoing end ofthe-machine.

As soon as the folder plates II have completed the folds, and before they begin theirreturn-to' horizontal movement, the folded blank passes 'beff neath a hold-down arm or finger 85 secured to'a' cross bar 86 mounted in the side frames 2. v

A central support extends from adjacent table H (see Fig. 2 to the opposite end of the machine.

As the folded blank passes from beneath the finger 95 it is taken up by rollers 91 of the taping machine (not shown) and the edges united by a strip of gummed tape in the usual way;

By providing flat faced scoring or creasing' discs 46 and locating the groove 81 adjacent the outer side of the anvil-chain (about a blanks thickness from the edge) and locating the folders hinge as close as possible to the anvil-chain, the fold can be started and the folding side can be brought to the vertical (half-way) position before the blank has left the gang of scoring or creasing discs. This makes it possible not only greatly to increase the speed of the machine, but also permits the machine to be built shorter than would otherwise be the case.

By turning shaft l5 after releasing set screw 85, the abutment plate 22 and gate 2! may be moved forwardly or backwardly of the table to allow for different lengths of blanks, which is necessary when the joint place of engament of pushers 28 and. 42 remains constant.

While we have illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention, we wish it clearly understood that numerous changes in the details of construction, form and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the'accompanying drawings, it is thought that the complete construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What we claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a blank stacking table, a blank creasing mechanism, a main conveyor chain extending beneath the stack on the stacking table and past the blank creasing mechanism and having means for conveying a blank from the bottom of the stack and from the stack along the table and through the creasing mechanism, and running at relatively high speed, combined with an auxiliary blank moving conveyor for starting the blank movement at relatively slow speed and accelerating the same to the point where the main conveyor takes hold of the blank.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a blank creasing and folding mechanism including a relatively fast main blank conveyor for advancing the blanks through the creasing and folding mechanisms, of a stacking table for blanks, and a blank feeder comprising means to engage a blank at relatively slow speed and advance it at accelerated speed to attain approximately the speed of the main conveyor before the main conveyor acts on the blank, said main conveyor extending under the stack of blanks on the table and cooperating with said blank feeder to remove'blanks from the stack and convey them off the stacking table.

3. In a machine of the class described, a blank stacking table, a blank creasing mechanism, a main conveyor chain extending beneath the stack on the stacking table and past the blank creasing mechanism and having means for conveying a the same to the point where the main conveyor takes hold of the blank, said auxiliary conveyor comprising an endless chain with pushers and mechanism including a relatively fast main blank conveyor for advancing the blanks through the creasing and folding mechanisms, of a stacking table for blanks, and a blank feeder comprising means to engage a blank at relatively slow speed and advance it at accelerated speed to attain approximately the speed of the main conveyor before the main conveyor acts on the blank, said main conveyor extending under the stack of blanks on the table and coperating with said blank feeder to remove blanks from the stack and convey them off the stacking table, said main conveyor traveling at constant speed, said blank feder comprising an endless conveyor and means causing it to travel at regular intervals at variable speed from slow to fast for purposes described.

5. In a machine of the class described, a main frame having transverse beams, elongated carriages mounted on said beams andeach including a pair of spaced plates, a stub shaft near one end of the carriage, a first motion shaft journaled in said main frame and in the other end of said carriage, sprockets and a main conveyor chain mounted on said shafts, an intermediate shaft journaled in said carriage, a main conveyor chain sprocket on said intermediate shaft, an anvil chain sprocket and a folder chain sprocket on said intermediate shaft, 9. folder chain sprocket on said first motion shaft, a folder chain passing around said folder chain sprockets, a second anvil chain sprocket mounted on said carriage, an anvil chain passing around said anvil chain sprockets, folder plates hinged at intervals to said folder chain, a cam rail carried by said carriage, means operatively connecting said folder plates with said cam rail, and a gang of creasing discs located above said anvil chain and cooper ating therewith.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a gang of upper relatively thin fiat creasing discs, and a lower endless anvil chain and means to move blanks along with said chain beneath the creasing discs, of means located alongside said chain adjacent said discs for fold.- ing up the side of the blank while the blank is still under the influence of the creasing discs.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a gang of upper relatively thin flat creasing discs and a lower endless anvil chain and means to move blanks along with said til? chain beneath the creasing discs, ofmeans located discs and completing the fold after the blanks pass from the discs.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a blank creasing mechanism embodying a gang of discs, of means separate from the creasing mechanism for folding over the blank at the crease, said means being in part located adjacent said creasing mechanism and commencing its function while the creasing mechanism is still operating on the blank and completing the folding act after the blank ha passed the creasing mechanism.

9. In a machine of the character described, a main blank conveyor, a blank creasing mechanism, and a blank folding mechanism, the latter comprising an endless folder chain, folding plates pivoted to said folder chain, a fixed cam raiL'operative connections between said plates and said rail, said rail having a portion to maintain said plates horizintal beneath the blanks until the blanks are creased, and then to fold the blank side along the crease up and over upon the remaining portion of theblank.

10. In a machine of the class described, a blank creasing mechanism and means to pass a blank through the same edgewise, said mechanism comprising an endless anvil chain located beneath the blank and means to drive the chain with its upper flight horizontally disposed, a bracket above the blank and extending in the general direction of the anvil chain, a bar carrying a gang of relatively thin flat discs and mounted on said bracket, said anvil chain having a longitudinal groove directly below said discs and adjacent the outer side of the chain.

11. In a machine of the class described, a blank creasing mechanism and means to pass a blank through the same edgewise, said mechanism comprising an endless anvil chain located beneath the blank and means to drive the chain with its upper flight horizontally disposed, a bracket above the blank and extending in the general direction of the anvil chain, a bar carrying a gang of discs and mounted on said bracket, said anvil chain having a longitudinal groove directly below said discs, and a presser bar carried by said bracket for holding the blank down alongside the discs.

12. In a machine of the class described, a blank creasing mechanism and means to pass a blank through the sameedgewise, said mechanism comprising an endless anvil chain located beneath the blank and means to drive the chain with its upper flight horizontally disposed, a bracket above the blank and extending in the general direction of the anvil chain, and a bar carrying a gang of discs and mounted on said bracket, said anvil chain having a longitudinal groove directly below said discs, and a blank hold-down blade extending from the advance end of said bracket.

13. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a blank stacking table, a blank creasing mechanism, a blank folding mechanism, and a blank feeding and conveying means, said creasing mechanism comprisinga lower endless anvil chain and an upper gang of discs, a bracket for supporting said discs, and a blade carried by and extending longitudinally from said bracket to lie on the blank adjacent the crease after it leaves said gang of discs, said discs and said blade cooperating withsaid folding mechanism.

14. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a blank stacking table, a blank creasing mechanism, a blank folding mechanism, a blank feeding and conveying means, said creasing mechanism comprising a lower endless anvil chain and an upper gang of discs, a bracket for supporting said discs, and a blade carried by and extending longitudinally from said bracket to lie on the blank adjacent the crease after it leaves said gang of discs, said discs and said blade cooperating with said folding mechanism, said folding mechanism being constructed to begin its folding operation while the blank is still under the influence of the creasing discs and complete the same before the blank passes from under said blade.

15. In a machine of the class described, in

creasingmechanism, a blank folding mechanism,

' a blank feeding and conveying means, said creasing mechanism comprising a. lower endless anvil folding operation while the blank is still under folding mechanism comprising an endless folder chain arranged adjacent said anvil chain, folder blades pivoted to said folder chain, an endless cam rail, and means operatively connecting said blades and rail.

17. In a machine of the class described, an endless blank conveyor, a, blank creasing mechanism, and a blank folding mechanism, said creasing mechanism including an endless anvil chain and creasing discs, the chain having a v groove into which the discs press the crease, said folding mechanism comprising an endless folder chain arranged adjacent said anvil chain, folder blades pivoted to said folder chain, an endless cam rail, means operatively connecting said blades and rail, said connecting means comprising a bracket secured to the folder blade and overlying said rail, and oppositely disposed rollers carried by said bracket and engaging said rail.

18. In a machine of the class described, a blank creasing mechanism and means to pass a blank through the same edgewise, said mechanism comprising an endlessanvil chain located beneath the blank, meansto drive the chain with its upper flight horizontally disposed, a bracket above the blank and extending in the general direction of the anvilchain, and a bar carrying at least one creasing disc'mounted on said bracket, said anvil chain having a longitudinal groove directly below said disc adjacent the outer side of the chain. 1

19. In a machine of the class described, a blank creasing mechanism and means to pass a blank through the same edgewise, said mechanism comprising an endless anvil chain located beneaththe blank, means to drive the chain with its upper flight horizontally disposed, a bracket above the blank and extending in the general direction of the anvil chain, a bar carrying at least one creasing disc mounted on said bracket, said anvil chain having a longitudinal groove directly below said disc, and a-presser bar carried by said bracket and holding the blank down alongside said disc.

20. In a machine of the class described, a blank creasing mechanism and means to pass a blank through the same edgewise, said mechanism comprising an endless anvil chain located beneath the blank, means to drive the chain with its upper flight horizontally disposed, a bracket above the blank and extending in the general direction ,direction of the anvil chain, a bar carried by said bracket, a set of creasing discs having bearer of the anvil chain, a bar carrying at least one creasing disc mounted on said bracket, .iaid anvil chain having av longitudinal groove directly below said disc, a presser bar carriedby said bracket and holding the blank down alongside said disc, and a blank folding mechanism comprising v an endless carrier, folding plates pivoted to said carrier, and a stationary cam fail for moving said plates through an angle of approximately 180 and return to efiect a folding-over of a partof the blank onto the remainder along the line of crease.

21. In a machine of the class described, a blank ing hubs at their inner faces only and mounted on the outer side of said bar whereby the exposed outer vfaces of the discswill be unobstructed, said anvil chain comprising links and having a groove adjacent the outer side of the chain in the upper face thereof to cooperate with the discs, a blank folder conveyer running close to and parallel with said anvil chain, folder plates carried by said conveyer and means to actuate said plates while the blank is still under the influence of the folding mechanisms to fold the sides of the blanks up toward the discs, and after the blanks shall have passed the creasing mech- 15 anisms fold the sides over onto the remainder.

HERBERT L. MITCHEILM SELDON G. MI'ICHELL. 

